Bible: Ezra 5:6-17

5:6This is a copyof the letterthatTattenaigovernorof Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and his colleagueswhowere the officialsof Trans-EuphratessenttoKingDarius.5:7The reportthey senttohim was writtenas follows:1

“To KingDarius: Allgreetings!25:8Let it beknownto the kingthatwe have gone tothe provinceof Judah, to the templeof the greatGod. It isbeing builtwith largestones,3and timbersare being placedin the walls. Thisworkis being donewith all diligenceand is prosperingin their hands.5:9We inquiredof thoseelders, askingthem, ‘Whogaveyou the authorityto rebuildthistempleand to completethisstructure?’5:10We alsoinquiredof their namesin order to informyou, so thatwe might writethe namesof the menwhowere their leaders.5:11They respondedto us in the followingway: ‘Weareservantsof the Godof heavenand earth. We are rebuildingthe templewhichwaspreviously builtmanyyearsago. A greatking4of Israelbuiltit and completedit.5:12Butafterour ancestors5angeredthe Godof heaven, he deliveredtheminto the hands6of KingNebuchadnezzarof Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyedthistempleand exiledthe peopleto Babylon.75:13Butin the firstyearof KingCyrusof Babylon,8KingCyrusenacteda decreeto rebuildthistempleof God.5:14Eventhe goldand silvervesselsof the templeof GodthatNebuchadnezzarhad takenfromthe templein Jerusalemand had broughtto the palace9of Babylon– even those thingsKingCyrusbroughtfromthe palaceof Babylonand presented10to a man by the nameof Sheshbazzarwhomhe had appointedas governor.5:15He saidto him, “Takethesevesselsand godepositthemin the templein Jerusalem, and let the houseof Godbe rebuiltinits proper location.”115:16ThenthisSheshbazzarwentand laidthe foundationsof the templeof Godin Jerusalem. From thattimetothe present moment12it has been in the process of being rebuilt, although it is notyet finished.’

5:17 “Nowifthe kingis so inclined,13let a search be conductedin the royalarchives14therein Babylonin orderto determinewhetherKingCyrusdid in fact issueordersfor thistempleof Godto be rebuiltin Jerusalem. Then let the kingsendus a decisionconcerningthismatter.”